Iain wins Burnside Bowl at Kingarth club

Sportsdesk

Rothesay Golf Club former champion Iain White blew the opposition away with a superb back-nine score of two-under-par 32 to win The Burnside Bowl in the Seniors Open at a wind-swept Kingarth course last week.

The two-handicapper had dropped shots at the fifth and sixth holes on an outward half of 36 but recovered strongly after the turn..

Five threes, including birdies at the 10th, 14th and 16th, gave White a gross score of level-par 68 for net 66 and a one-shot victory over Rothesay clubmate Donny McArthur and Bute’s Sandy Long.

McArthur and Long had the consolation of winning their respective age-groups. The Rothesay player’s net 67 playing off a handicap of 20 gave him a one-shot win in the 50-64 years’ class. Bute’s Graeme Connor (13) took second prize with a score of 69 while Jim Crawford (8), of Rothesay, was third on net 71 thanks to a better inward half.

Former seniors open winner Long (24) led the 65-years-and-over class with net 67. He was three clear of second-placed Tommy Duncan (Rothesay) on net 70 playing off 8. A better-inward-half gave clubmate David Coll (12) third place on net 71.

White won the longest drive award with a superb hit at the fourth hole while David Bryden (Bute) took the prize for nearest the pin at the third hole.

The event, which has been sponsored by the late Jimmy Burnside since its inception in 2010, continues in his name through a legacy left to the club by the former honorary captain.

* Four-times champion Robert McKirdy was the leading qualifier for the club championship at Kingarth after last Saturday’s second stroke-play round of the title event. In difficult weather conditions in both rounds scores of 73 and 74 for a 147 aggregate gave McKirdy a one-shot advantage over second-placed Donald Standaloft (148) who is also a former champion.

* Hon. Treasurer Sandy Long completed a successful week last Thursday when he won the Hume Ferguson Cup at Elderslie on the club’s annual outing.

A stableford total of 33 points secured victory for the 24-handicapper and followed a fine performance the previous day when he finished joint runner-up in the Seniors Open at Kingarth.

John Foley (14) and Peter Martin (25) shared second place at Elderslie after finishing one point adrift of the winner.

The competition for ladies was won by Elizabeth Speirs with 31 points. Anna McComb was runner-up with Liz Archibald in third place.

* Club members are in competitive action on Saturday in the July medal with the usual 8.30am ballot at the clubhouse. The popular programme of nine-hole competitions continues at Kingarth next Wednesday when players should make their own playing arrangements.